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My Brilliant Friend (Italian: L'amica geniale) is a Neapolitan- and Italian-language coming-of-age drama television series created by Saverio Costanzo for HBO, RAI, and TIMvision. Named after the first of four novels in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante, the series is an adaptation of the entire literary work into four seasons. My Brilliant Friend is a co-production between Italian production companies Wildside, Fandango, The Apartment Pictures, Mowe and international film groups Umedia and Fremantle.

The following is a list of cast members and respective characters who appeared on the television series My Brilliant Friend. The majority of the cast has changed multiple times across the series to better portray the characters as they age.

Cast and characters

Overview

Main

The following actors are credited in the opening titles.

• Elisa Del Genio (season 1; guest season 2), Margherita Mazzucco (seasons 1–3), Alba Rohrwacher (season 4; cameo season 3), and Elisabetta De Palo (featured season 4; guest season 1) as Elena "Lenù" Greco, a girl from a poor neighbourhood in the outskirts of 1950s Naples. Rohrwacher also narrates the events of the series from the point of view of adult Elena Greco. The character is also portrayed by Ingrid Del Genio (guest season 1) as a very young child.
• Ludovica Nasti (season 1; guest season 2), Gaia Girace (seasons 1–3; special appearance season 4), and Irene Maiorino (season 4) as Raffaella "Lila" Cerullo, Elena's best friend and later, Stefano Carracci's wife
• Anna Rita Vitolo as Immacolata Greco, Elena's mother
• Luca Gallone as Vittorio Greco, a porter and Elena's father
• Imma Villa [it; fr] as Manuela Solara (seasons 1–3), Silvio Solara's wife, Michele and Marcello's mother
• Antonio Milo [it; fr] as Silvio Solara (season 1; recurring season 2), owner of the Bar Solara
• Valentina Acca [it; fr] as Nunzia Cerullo (seasons 1–2, 4), Lila's mother
• Antonio Buonanno as Fernando Cerullo (seasons 1–3; recurring season 4), a shoemaker and Lila's father
• Dora Romano [it] as Miss Oliviero (seasons 1–2), Elena and Lila's elementary school teacher
• Alessio Gallo [it; fr] (seasons 1–3) and Edoardo Pesce (season 4) as Michele Solara, Silvio and Manuela's son. The character is also portrayed by Adriano Tammaro (recurring season 1) as a child.
• Nunzia Schiano [it] as Nella Incardo (seasons 1–2), Miss Oliviero's cousin in Ischia
• Giovanni Amura (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1) as Stefano Carracci, Don Achille Carracci's son and, later, Lila's husband. The character is also portrayed by Kristijan Di Giacomo (recurring season 1) as a child and by Giorgio Pinto (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Gennaro De Stefano (season 2; recurring season 1) and Salvatore Striano (season 4) as Rino Cerullo, Lila's older brother and, later, Pinuccia's husband. The character is also portrayed by Tommaso Rusciano (recurring season 1) as a child.
• Francesco Serpico (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1) and Fabrizio Gifuni (season 4) as Giovanni "Nino" Sarratore, Donato and Lidia's son. The character is also portrayed by Alessandro Nardi (guest season 1) as a child.
• Federica Sollazzo (season 2; recurring season 1) as Pinuccia Carracci, Don Achille's daughter and, later, Rino's wife. The character is also portrayed by Giuliana Tramontano (recurring season 1) as a child and by Giovanna Cappuccio (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Clotilde Sabatino [it] as Professor Galiani (seasons 2–3), Elena's high school teacher. The character is also portrayed by Anna Redi (recurring season 1) as a younger woman.
• Ulrike Migliaresi (season 2; recurring season 1) as Ada Cappuccio, Melina Cappuccio's daughter. The character is also portrayed by Lucia Manfuso (recurring season 1) as a child and by Fabiana Fazio (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Christian Giroso (season 2; recurring season 1) as Antonio Cappuccio, Melina Cappuccio's son. The character is also portrayed by Domenico Cuomo (recurring season 1) as a child and by Massimiliano Rossi (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Eduardo Scarpetta as Pasquale Peluso (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1, featured season 4), Alfredo and Giuseppina's son. The character is also portrayed by Francesco Catena (recurring season 1) as a child.
• Giovanni Buselli [it] (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1) and Pio Stellaccio (season 4) as Enzo Scanno, Nicola and Assunta's son. The character is also portrayed by Vincenzo Vaccaro (recurring season 1) as a child.
• Giovanni Cannata as Armando Galiani (seasons 2–3), Professor Galiani's son
• Francesco Russo as Bruno Soccavo (seasons 2–3), Nino's friend
• Bruno Orlando (seasons 2–3) and Stefano Dionisi (season 4) as Franco Mari, Elena's first boyfriend in Pisa
• Daria Deflorian [it] as Adele Airota (seasons 2–4), Pietro Airota's mother
• Matteo Cecchi (seasons 2–3) and Pier Giorgio Bellocchio [it; fr] (season 4) as Pietro Airota, Elena's second boyfriend in Pisa and later, husband
• Giulia Mazzarino (season 3; recurring season 2) and Sonia Bergamasco (season 4) as Maria Rosa Airota, Pietro's sister
• Gabriele Vacis [it] as Guido Airota (season 3; recurring seasons 2, 4), Pietro's father
• Maria Vittoria Dallasta (season 3) as Silvia, a student and a young mother. The character is also portrayed by Alice Piano (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Riccardo Palmieri as Gino (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), Elena's classmate and first boyfriend
• Giorgia Gargano as Nadia Galiani (season 3; recurring season 2, featured season 4), Professor Galiani's daughter
• Fabrizio Cottone (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2) and Renato De Simone (season 4) as Alfonso Carracci, Don Achille's son. The character is also portrayed by Valerio Laviano Saggese (recurring season 1) as a child.
• Rosaria Langellotto (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2) as Gigliola Spagnuolo, Mr. Spagnuolo's daughter. The character is also portrayed by Alice D'Antonio (recurring season 1) as a child and by Demi Licata (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Pina Di Gennaro as Melina Cappuccio (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2, 4), a crazy widow
• Francesca Pezzella (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2) as Carmela "Carmen" Peluso, Alfredo and Giuseppina's daughter. The character is also portrayed by Francesca Bellamoli (recurring season 1) as a child and by Lucia D'Ambra (recurring season 4) as an adult.
• Sofia Luchetti (season 3), Vittoria Cozza (season 4) and Ludovica Rita Di Meglio (season 4) as Adele "Dede" Airota, Elena and Pietro's daughter
• Salvatore Tortora (season 3) as Gennaro "Gennarino" Carracci, Lila's son. The character is also portrayed by Daniel Campagna (guest season 2), Giuseppe Cortese (recurring season 3; guest season 2) as a child and by Francesco Ferrante (recurring season 4) as a teenager and by Alessio Galati (recurring season 4) as a young adult.
• Elvis Esposito (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2) and Lino Musella (season 4) as Marcello Solara, Manuela and Silvio's son. The character is also portrayed by Pietro Vuolo (recurring season 1) as a child.
• Francesca Montuori (season 3) and Claudia Tranchese [it] (season 4) as Elisa Greco, Elena's younger sister. The character is also portrayed by Sara Mauriello (recurring season 1), Cristina Fraticola (recurring seasons 1–2) and Gaia Buongiovanni (recurring season 3; guest season 2) as a child.
• Chiara Celotto (season 3) as Eleonora, Nino's wife. The character is also portrayed by Valeria Bello (guest season 4).
• Sophia Protino (season 3), Fatima Credendino (season 4) and Adriana Trotta (season 4) as Elsa Airota, Elena and Pietro's daughter. The character is also portrayed by Aria and Luce Milighetti (guests season 3) as a very young child and by Dominique Donnarumma (guest season 4) as a teenager.

Featured

The following actors are credited in the opening titles of a single episode of the series.

• Antonio Pennarella as Don Achille Carracci (season 1), the local mobster
• Edu Rejón as Juan (season 3), a student in Milan
• Giulia Pica as a doctor (season 3), who provides contraceptives in Naples
• Claudio Lardo as Giuntini (season 3), chief editor at l'Unità
• Mirko Setaro as Lila's cardiologist (season 3)
• Vittorio Ciorcalo as Lila's neurologist (season 3)
• Giovanni Toscano as Mario's friend (season 3), a student in Florence
• Eugenio Di Fraia as Mario Gioia (season 3), an engineer in Florence
• Rebecca Fanucchi as Clelia (season 3), Adele's baby sitter in Florence
• Iacopo Ricciotti as Maria Rosa's boyfriend (season 3)

Recurring

The following actors are credited in the end credits of at least two episodes within a single season of the series.

The Grecos

• Emanuele Nocerino (season 1), Matteo Castaldo (seasons 1–2), Daniele Cacciatore (season 3; guest season 2) and Lucio Provenza (season 4) as Peppe Greco, Elena's younger brother
• Thomas Noioso (season 1), Raffaele Nocerino (seasons 1–2), Davide De Lucia (season 3; guest season 2) and Claudio Cacciaglia (season 4) as Gianni Greco, Elena's younger brother

The Carraccis

• Sarah Falanga as Maria Carracci (seasons 1–2, 4; guest season 3), Don Achille's wife

The Pelusos

• Gennaro Canonico as Alfredo Peluso (season 1), a highly skilled carpenter
• Lia Zinno as Giuseppina Peluso (seasons 1–2), Alfredo's wife

The Sarratores

• Emanuele Valenti as Donato Sarratore (seasons 1–2; guest season 4), a train controller
• Fabrizia Sacchi as Lidia Sarratore (seasons 1–2; guest season 4), Donato's wife
• Cristina Magnotti (season 1), Miriam D'Angelo (seasons 1–2) and Emanuela Caruso (season 4) as Marisa Sarratore, Donato and Lidia's daughter
• Michele Di Costanzo (guest season 1), Catello Buonomo (season 2; guest season 1) and Renato Bisogni (guest season 4) as Pino Sarratore, Donato and Lidia's son
• Federica Guarino (guest season 1), Federica Barbuto (season 2; guest season 1) and Francesca Matrone (guest season 4) as Clelia Sarratore, Donato and Lidia's daughter
• Gioele Maddi (guest season 1), Mattia Iapigio (season 2; guest season 1) and Adriano Schisano (guest season 4) as Ciro Sarratore, Donato and Lidia's son
• Matthias Strepponi (guest season 3) and Aldo Boschetto (season 4) as Mirko Sarratore, Nino and Silvia's son
• Aurora Grimaldi (season 4), Tyara Cascone (guest season 4) and Gaia Cuomo (guest season 4) as Immacolata "Imma" Sarratore, Elena and Nino's daughter

The Scannos

• Ciro Pugliese as Nicola Scanno (season 1), a greengrocer
• Marina Cioppa as Assunta Scanno (season 1), Nicola's wife
• Maria Vittoria Miorin as Nunzia "Tina" Scanno (season 4), Lila and Enzo's daughter

The Spagnuolos

• Mimmo Ruggiero as Mr. Spagnuolo (season 1; guest season 2), pastry chef at Bar Solara
• Patrizia Di Martino [it] as Rosa Spagnuolo (season 1; guest season 2), his wife

The Cerullos

• Francesco Saggiomo as Dino Cerullo (season 2), Rino and Pinuccia's son

Others

• Valentina Arena as Jolanda (season 1; guest seasons 2–3), a stationer
• Vittorio Viviani [it] as Mr. Ferraro (season 1), the librarian and an elementary school teacher
• Sergio Basile as Professor Gerace (season 1), Elena's high school teacher
• Giuseppe Brunetti as Dario (season 2)
• Paolo Tarallo as Filippo (season 3)
• Adalgisa Manfrida as Doriana (season 4), Pietro's partner
• Bexzbec Gambini Flores as Tania (season 4)
• Luigi Credendino as Roberto (season 4), Carmen's husband
• Dalal Suleiman as Rossella (season 4), a gynecologist
• Marina Vitolo as Mina (season 4), Elena's neighbor

Guests

The following actors are credited in the end credits of a single episode within a single season of the series.

• Antonio Maglione as Alfonso (season 1), a friend of Vittorio Greco's
• Enrico D'Errico as Pier Paolo Pasolini (season 2)
• Giustiniano Alpi as Rolando Berti (season 2)
• Alessandro Bertoncini as Carlo Fortini (season 2)
• Ilaria Zanotti as Giulia Cristaldi (season 2)
• Maria Rosaria Bozzon as Titina (season 2), Gennaro's baby sitter
• Maurizio Tabani as Professor Tarratano (seasons 2–3), a critic
• Vincenzo Antonucci as Edo (season 3)
• Ianua Coeli Linhart as Isabella (season 3)
• Antonella Romano as Teresa (season 3)
• Riccardo Russo as Marco Galiani (season 3)
• Maria Raffaella Cortese as Maria Carracci (season 3), Stefano and Ada's daughter
• Giulia Weber as Marcella (season 3)
• Roberta Geremicca as Maria (season 3)
• Jordan Andres Ayala Robles (season 3) and Andrea Pollice (season 4) as Albertino Sarratore, Nino's son with Eleonora
• Riccardo Fara as Luciano (season 3)
• Daniela De Luca as Silvana (season 4), Elena's maid
• Massimo Rigo as Enrico (season 4), a publisher
• Maria Torres as Clara (season 4), Enrico's wife
• Chiara Mauro as Mirella (season 4)
• Francesca Solombrino as Anna (season 4), Elena's maid
• Filippo Beltrami as Moreno (season 4), a friend of Gennarino's

Notes

1. ^ Dubbed by Alba Rohrwacher

References

1. Moylan, Brian (February 9, 2016). "Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels set for TV adaptation". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
2. ^ Evans, Greg (March 14, 2018). "HBO Unveils First-Look Photos Of 'My Brilliant Friend' Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
3. ^ "HBO Announces New Cast And Releases First Look At Season 4 Of MY BRILLIANT FRIEND". Warner Bros. Discovery. January 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.

• Lists of drama television characters